What’s the difference?

I was perusing through PCGS coinfacts, and noticed the following images. Can you spot the difference?



The bottom image was from when PCGS graded the coin MS-67+, and it sold for $2640 in January 2018. Then it showed up on the auction block in June 2018, this time in an MS-68 holder, and it sold for $15600. The top image is from when PCGS graded it MS-68. Both images are proudly displayed on PCGS Coinfacts.

So what is the difference? The holder. And $13000. Nothing more.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Nice little profit.

 

More toning.

 

Does appear to be the same coin. Personally, I'm amazed that a 1/2 grade point makes that much difference. But, oh well. Pays to resubmit sometimes. Wish I was better at that "game". I get worried I will lose the grade I have if I crack and resubmit.

 

They are the exact same coin

 

Only 2 have been certified MS68 by PCGS and none higher.

 

i noticed that too..maybe the same coin, but the pics are different..

 

They are indeed the same coin, but the lighting setup used was different to bring out the luster

 

Never said they weren't. I simply said the toning is the only difference I see.

 

The obverse toning spot on George’s dome is gone in the top images. Maybe it’s the lighting angle but I don’t see it period.

 

So let me get this straight. Someone removed the spot on Washington and it upgraded. Top image also looks more reflective. Was this coin sent in for conservation?

 

right! ..i don't see 13 grand worth of difference

 

Exactly!

 

And I wouldn't see 13 grand difference between 2 different coins if one was a 67+ and the other was a 68...even if both were "correctly" graded. That doesn't mean that other collectors wouldn't.

 

When you have "registry fever" and more money than you know what to do with it, you get involved with coins like this at these prices.

Frankly I’m glad that I got cured from a mild case of “registry fever” that I had a few years ago. I was on the NGC registry at the time and was hoping to get closer to #1 with my type set. I learned that to do that, I either had to have more money than King Midas or learn to “work the system.” The way to work the system was to have super high grade modern coins and not so great early coins. My collecting habits run counter to that.

I did get the title for one year on the complete 1795 to 1933 gold type set, but that was a fluke.

 

The bottom coin has a spot on Washington's temple, and the top a hit on his eyebrow. The spot would kill it for me.

 

The same here. I have no doubts that they are both the same coin. The lighting is from different angles. I can see the mark on the eyebrow on both coins. Too many other features that match as well.

I also have no doubts that the top coin, once removed from its MS-67+ slab, was very lightly doctored and/or polished just enough to bring out the coloring in the toning to bump it up to a 68.

 

What about the spot?

 

When I enlarge that area I think it still shows. That's why I think this coin was doctored to some degree. Add in the lighting angles and it is not as pronounced.

 

Well from the pictures it looks like the dark spot on the face was mostly conserved and removed, so no not the same